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| Parts of Pancreas (continued) |
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The pancreas is made up of glandular tissue and a system of ducts. The
main duct is the pancreatic duct which runs the length of the pancreas.
It drains the pancreatic fluid from the gland and carries it to the duodenum.
The main duct is about one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter and has many
small side branches. The pancreatic duct merges with the bile duct to form
the ampulla of Vater (a widening of the duct just before it enters the
duodenum.)
Your doctor will probably refer to different parts of the pancreas when
discussing your situation. The part of the pancreas that a tumor arises
in will effect how it is treated. For descriptive purposes, there are two
ways the pancreas is divided into parts: by parts of the overall shape
and by the function of its cells. |
| Fig. 1-2 |
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SHAPE
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| The five parts of the pancreas are: |
|
| Fig. 1-3 |
| uncinate process- |
The part of the gland that bends backwards and underneath the body of the pancreas. Two very important
blood vessels, the superior mesenteric artery and vein cross in front of the uncinate process.
|
| head- |
The widest part of the gland. It is found in the right part of abdomen, nestled in the curve of the
duodenum which forms an impression in the side of the gland.
|
| neck- |
The thin section between the head and the body of the gland. |
| body- |
The middle part of gland between the neck and the tail. The superior mesenteric blood vessels run
behind this part of the gland. |
| tail- |
The thin tip of gland in the left part of abdomen in close proximity
with the spleen. |
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FUNCTION
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| The pancreas can also be thought of as having different functional components, the endocrine and exocrine parts.
Tumors can arise in either part. However, the vast majority arise in the exocrine (also called
non-endocrine) part. Since the parts have different normal functions, when tumors interfere with
these functions, different kinds of symptoms will occur.
|
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| Fig. 1-4 |
| Islets of Langerhans- |
These are the endocrine (endo= within) cells of the pancreas that produce
and secrete hormones into the bloodstream. The pancreatic hormones, insulin
and glucagon, work together to maintain the proper level of sugar in the
blood. The sugar, glucose, is used by the body for energy. |
| Acinar cells- |
These are the exocrine (exo= outward) cells of the pancreas that produce
and transport chemicals that will exit the body through the digestive system.
The chemicals that the exocrine cells produce are called enzymes. They
are secreted in the duodenum where they assist in the digestion of food.
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CONTINUED 
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